Hibiscus ‘Summer Night’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hibiscus  cultivar named ‘SUMMER NIGHT’ is disclosed, characterized by fully double purple flowers. Plants are compact and have flowers that will open in cold climates. The new variety is a  Hibiscus , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hibiscus syriacus.

Variety denomination: ‘SUMMER NIGHT’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Hibiscus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor in Middenbeemster The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program was to produce new Hibiscus syriacusvarieties with double flowers on dwarf plants. crossing resulting inthis new variety was made during 2002.

The seed parent is the unpatented Hibiscus syriacus ‘Oiseau Blue’, thepollen parent is the proprietary variety ‘Summer Holiday’, filedconcurrently (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 15/530,764). Thenew variety was identified as a potentially interesting selection during2005. Selection was made at a research nursery in Middenbeemster, TheNetherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SUMMER NIGHT’ was firstperformed in February 2014 at a commercial nursery in Hazerswoude, TheNetherlands. Vegetative soft wood cuttings were grafted onto an unnamed,unpatented Hibiscus syriacus rootstock. Subsequent propagation has shownthat the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced trueto type in 6 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SUMMER NIGHT’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SUMMER NIGHT’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘SUMMER NIGHT’ as a new and distinct Hibiscuscultivar:

-   -   1. Double, purple flowers    -   2. Flowers will open in cold climates.    -   3. Compact plants.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUMMER NIGHT’ are similar to plants of theseed parent variety in most horticultural characteristics, however,plants of the new cultivar ‘SUMMER NIGHT’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The new variety has a flower colored more purple than blue,        the seed parent has a blue flower.    -   2. The new variety has a double flower, the seed parent variety        has a single flower.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUMMER NIGHT’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent variety in most horticultural characteristics, however,plants of the new cultivar ‘SUMMER NIGHT’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The new variety has a purple flower, the pollen parent has a        pink and white colored flower.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUMMER NIGHT’ can be compared to the varietyHibiscus ‘SHIMRR38’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,374. These varieties aresimilar in most horticultural characteristics however, ‘SUMMER NIGHT’differs in the following:

-   -   1. Flowers of the new variety are double, flowers of this        comparator are single.    -   2. Plants of the new variety have a very upright habit, plants        of this comparator are more mounded.    -   3. Plants of the new variety are taller than plants of this        comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘SUMMER NIGHT’ grown in a 3 gallon pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical flower of ‘SUMMER NIGHT’. Ageof the plant photographed is approximately 2 years old.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2015, 6^(th) edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Thefollowing observations and measurements describe ‘Summer Night’ plantsgrown in a polyhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. Measurements were takenduring late Summer. The plants were 2 years old in 3 gallon containers.The growing temperature ranged from approximately 18° C. to 27° C.during the day and 5° C. to 10° C. at night. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus syriacus ‘SUMMER NIGHT’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: 20 days at approximately 25° C.-   Root description: Fibrous, medium root thickness. Tan/brown in    color, not effectively measured with a color chart.-   Time to produce a rooted young plant: About 90 days at 25° C.

PLANT

-   Plant type: Perennial shrub.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 years old.-   Growth habit: Upright, nearly columnar.-   Pot size of plant described: 3 gallon pot.-   Overall plant shape: Upright, nearly columnar.-   Height: 42 cm.-   Plant spread: 35 cm.-   Plant vigor: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Upright and compact. No basal branching.    Very upright plant with branches at acute angles.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Average range 5 to 25 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 4 mm.-   Quantity of lateral branches: Average 7.-   Stem:    -   -   Stem shape.—Round.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Color.—Stem: Near RHS Yellow-Green 152B.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Angle of attachment.—Branches very upright, occurring at            acute angles from center of plant.-   Internode length: 4 cm on average.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.        -   Leaf shape.—Ovoid, lobed.        -   Average length.—8.5 cm.        -   Average width.—6.5 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, waxy with prominent veins.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, waxy with prominent            veins.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143A. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143A. Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.        -   Venation.—Pattern: Palmate. Color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144C. Color under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green            144C.        -   Petiole.—Average Length: 2 cm. Diameter: 3 mm. Petiole color            upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Petiole color lower            side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Petiole Texture upper            side: Pubescent. Petiole Texture lower side: Smooth.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring through Summer continuously.-   Flowering form: Fully double, whorled.-   Flower habit: Solitary, emerging from leaf axils.-   Flower longevity on plant: About 4 days.-   Quantity of flowers per plant: About 50 flowers and buds on a mature    plant in full bloom.-   Flower shape: Overall shape is a half dome.-   Flower aspect: Upright and slightly outward.-   Size:    -   -   Length.—3 cm.        -   Diameter.—6 cm.-   Flower other characteristics:    -   -   Persistence.—Self-cleaning.        -   Fragrance.—Light, earthy.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Spherical.        -   Length.—Average 1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average 1.0 cm.        -   Color.—Near Green 142B.-   Petal:    -   -   Petal arrangement.—Whorled and a thick central whorl of            petaloids.        -   Number of petals per flower.—5 large outer petals.        -   Fused.—At base.        -   Petal shape.—Obovate.        -   Petal base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire, undulate.        -   Tip shape.—Retuse.        -   Length.—2 cm.        -   Width.—3 cm.        -   Texture.—Upper: Glabrous. Lower: Glabrous.        -   Appearance.—Upper surface matte with glossy base. Lower            surface matte.-   Petal color:    -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: Near Purple-Violet N80D. Lower            surface: Near Purple N78B.        -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near Purple-Violet N80D, basal            blotch near Red-Purple 59B. Lower surface: Near Purple N78B.        -   Fading to.—Upper surface: Near Purple-Violet N80D, basal            blotch near Red-Purple 59B. Lower surface: Near Purple N78B.-   Petaloids:    -   -   Arrangement.—Thick central whorl of petaloids at the base of            the style.        -   Number of petaloids per flower.—Average 30.        -   Shape.—Irregular orbicular or obovate.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire, undulate.        -   Tip shape.—Retuse.        -   Length.—Average 1.75 cm.        -   Width.—Average range 0.5 to 1.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Upper: Glabrous. Lower: Glabrous.        -   Appearance.—Upper surface matte with glossy base. Lower            surface matte.-   Petaloid color:    -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: Near Purple-Violet N80D. Lower            surface: Near Purple N78B.        -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near Purple-Violet N80D, basal            blotch near Red-Purple 59B. Lower surface: Near Purple N78B.-   Calyx:    -   -   Shape.—Deltate.        -   Length.—7 mm.        -   Diameter.—1 cm.-   Sepal:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rotate.        -   Number.—Average 4 to 5.        -   Shape.—Deltate.        -   Tip.—Acicular.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—2 cm.        -   Width.—3 mm.        -   Texture, upper.—Smooth.        -   Texture, lower.—Smooth, waxy.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Near Green 137C. Under surface Near            Green 137C.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—2 cm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137C.        -   Orientation.—Straight.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Softly pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—Average 16, clustered and implanted in style,            typical of Hibiscus.        -   Filament length.—7 mm.        -   Filament color.—Near Green-White 157D.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Dorsifixed.        -   Length.—2 mm.        -   Color.—Near Green-White 157D.        -   Pollen color.—Near Green-White 157D.        -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—6.        -   Length.—1.0 cm.        -   Style.—Length: 1.7 cm. Color: Near Green-White 157D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Peltate. Color: Near Green White 157D.        -   Ovary color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 150C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests of Hibiscus syriacus have been observed.-   Garden performance: Good tolerance, performs well in humid    conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Low temperature tolerance to at least USDA    zone 4, high temperature tolerance to at least 40° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plantnamed ‘SUMMER NIGHT’ as herein illustrated and described.